Thursday, January 15, 2009

Lemon Tart Update


A Lemon Tart was spotted out of the corner of my eye on the Chalk Board at the Le Pain Quotidien on my walk to work this a.m. I quickly ran in (this also gave me a short reason to get out of this 13 degree, snowy, nose-numbing weather). And there it was...light behind it and sounds like angels singing from the heavens, haaaaaaahhhhh! I would only have one bite I promised myself. I mean, it couldn't taste as good in reality than it did in my head. It was like Marshall's search for the best cheeseburger in NY on HIMYM.

Obviously, (as per my picture) I had found a winner :) I think I even licked the fork clean at some point. It really was heaven, and TOTALLY hit the spot. It was custardy, with a hint of tart citrus, and a solid but melt-in-your-mouth graham crackery crust. And it tasted like it had JUST been made. Sheer perfection.
Thank you, Le Pain Quotidien!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

No More!!

picture courtesy of Google Images

Has anyone ever seen the movie Mommie Dearest? Remember the "NO MORE WIRE HANGERRRRS!!" scene?
I'm living this scene right now at work, except my colleague keeps screaming "NO MORE SMALL BOXES!!!!"

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Heart Meets Life


picture courtesy of the New York Post

SLUM ENCHANTED EVENING

Pls check out this article that my RaakStar just wrote for the NYPost, regarding Bollywood meeting Hollywood at the Golden Globes. It truly was an interesting thing to watch, especially for a girl born to Bombay-ite parents in Jackson Heights, raised in the 'burbs of Dirty Jerz, heart belonging to NYC.

Happy Birthday!!


I'd like to send a big HAPPY 30th Birthday to LawRose, Mommy to the cutest li'l Eagle EVER!!

Monday, January 12, 2009

My New Year's Hopelutions

The King of Written House has informed me that my blog has started off on a dark note, and would like me to sunshine it up a bit. This post, King, is for you.

So every New Year's Day, millions and millions of people "resolve" to do or quit something that year. The most popular being - lose weight, quit smoking, stress less, and so on. The gyms and grocery stores grow more crowded, the quit smoking hotline becomes busier, and the daily "to-do" lists analyzed. And come January 15th to February 1st, the gyms grow quieter, the Restaurant delivery business increases, life becomes more chaotic, and the people shivering outside my office building trying to light their cigarettes is back up to the usual again. And all of these people have a darker look in their eyes. A look of disappointment and frustration. And, sadly to say, I'm one of those people (sans the smoking--yuck!)

This year, after watching a few news reports and listening to my friends decide, in all gusto, that they are not making ANY resolutions this year, I decided to make a list of HOPELUTIONS. Things that I HOPE to do or make happen this year. No actual deadlines. NO strict rules.

So here's my hopelutions' list (in no particular order):
1) Lose another 10lbs
2) Learn to swim (*I can tread in water, but that's about it)
3) Stop being a shopaholic (*Hubby's favorite off my hopelution list)
4) Learn fluent Hindi & Spanish (*both of which I can only "get by" on now)
5) Take up dancing again (*I took every type of dance class you can think of from the ages of 3-14)
6) Declutter my life (*my office, my desk(s), my apartment)
7) Change my hairstyle
8) Keep a manicure for at least 5 days to a week (*mine tend to chip after a day...if they even make it out of the salon unscathed)
9) Write more (*that's what this blog is for)
10) Get back into my creativity (*Photography, sketching, writing, dancing, general creating)
11) See my nieces and nephews more (*at least those who live in the country)
12) Cook more often
13) Read more (*any good book recommendations? check me out on GoodReads)
14) Go back to school (*I'd like to eventually get my masters...just not sure in what yet)
15) Be more confident
16) Take on more responsibility at work
17) Do more outdoor activities (*bicycling, roller-skating, jogging...once the weather gets warmer)
18) Take up yoga/meditation (*quiet my mind)
19) Workout 4-5 times a week
20) Volunteer more / become more involved
21) Stop procrastinating
22) Increase my energy
23) Organize my finances / understand my finances
24) Wake up earlier / sleep better
25) Stop drinking Diet Coke
26) Be more on top of doctor's appointments (*mine & Hubby's)
27) Buy an apartment
28) Keep up my correspondence with people
29) Organize the addresses/information in my address book
30) Start a family
31) Find AT LEAST one new buyer/store to sell our clothing line to

If you would like to post your hopelutions online, check out 43Things

Friday, January 9, 2009

How the Fauna Finds Flora

Check out this book that my OH (ahem...Other Husband) found. I actually have no words...just read through it all and pick your fave story :)

http://community.livejournal.com/found_objects/3699822.html?page=1



When Life Hands You Lemons...Make Lemon Tarts!

So I have decided that since I'm not much of a cook...I'd like to become a baker. I LOVE coming up with new sweet ideas to concoct for get-togethers and guests. I started at the wee age of 12, baking with my sister (the boxed variety)....My Mom loved to cook, but my sister and I were more interested in the sweets region. Since I was not very experienced in cooking, BAKING from scratch scared me. But lately something has come over me, and I just decided -- it's so much easier to control what goes into the mix when you make it all yourself. I started last November with a MASSIVE Autumn care package for my sister who was away at college. (the theme: PUMPKIN)...I made Pumpkin mini muffins, Pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting (thanks LawRose for the recipe!), Pumpkin scones, AND the "piece de resistance" (anybody know how to put accents in a blog?) -- Oreo Cream Cheese Balls. (I know, no pumpkin, but AMAZING. Thank you to Mama's friend for this one...pure genius.)

Anyhoo...from time to time, I'll post recipes or pictures of stuff I've baked that have received good reviews from my personal taste testers. I'll also post stuff that LOOKS really good to me. (I'd like to send a shout out to the girls of Cupcakes Take the Cake--you ladies are an inspiration. Thank you! http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com)

I'd also LOVE to get your recipes or pics of yummy baked goods. I'm always looking for something new to try, or to post works of artistic deliciousness. :D

(This post was inspired by my sudden craving for a Lemon Tart...I can't find one ANYWHERE!!)

Dear Gossip Girl - Southern Mothers ft. Matt Pearson

This video is HIGHlarious! They really did Chuck Bass proud...

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Reedonculii

The week has been ridiculous. Everyone i know is getting sick. Business has been wavering all over the place. All the restaurants I love are shutting down--my fave sandwich place, my fave salad place, breakfast place, vegetarian place, Mexican place... I guess it's probably best. I'm making my own lunches and dinners now...saving some money. But i guess that's what a lot of people are doing...and that's probably why all my fave places are shutting down. Stupid vicious cycle. Anybody got any delicious and quick lunch (for 1) or dinner (for 2) recipes they'd care to share?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Let's All Go to the Movies...

So here's a list of movies (past and present) that I'd like to see, as, duh, I haven't seen them yet. Some you will be SHOCKED I haven't seen. Some you will wonder what the hell is wrong with me, and WHY would I want to see them. And some you will HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE what they are. Read on if you're interested:

On DVD:
Lost In Translation (I own two copies of this movie...but I have yet to finish watching it)
Pursuit of Happyness
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
Pineapple Express
Tropic Thunder
The Wackness
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys
LayerCake
Half Nelson
Wanted
Charlie Bartlett
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Secret Life of Bees

Waiting for DVD/On Demand:
Nothing Like the Holidays
Twilight
Rachel Getting Married

Just Out:
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Revolutionary Road
Ghajni (Bollywood version of Memento)

Coming Soon:
He's Just Not That Into You
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Watchmen (I hope it will be out soon)
Little Ashes (Love ANYTHING about Dali)

Anybody have any other recommendations?

P.S. I just saw that the movie DUCKMAN is out on DVD. have any of you every seen Duckman? Classic. Classic film.